I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindler's List," asked myself, "Why
> didn't the Jews fight back?"
>
>
> Now I know why.
>
> I sat in a movie theater, watching "Pearl Harbor" and asked myself, "Why
> weren't we prepared?"
>
> Now I know why.
>
> Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the actions of evil
> people.
>
> On September 11, dozens of capable airplane passengers allowed
> themselves
> to be overpowered by a handful of poorly armed terrorists because they
> did
> not comprehend the depth of hatred that motivated their captors.
>
> On September 11, thousands of innocent people were murdered because too
> many Americans naively reject the reality that some nations are
> dedicated
> to the dominance of others. Many political pundits, pacifists and media
> personnel want us to forget the carnage. They say we must focus on the
> bravery of the rescuers and ignore the cowardice of the killers. They
> implore us to understand the motivation of the perpetrators. Major
> television stations have announced they will assist the healing process
> by
> not replaying devastating footage of the planes crashing into the Twin
> Towers.
>
> I will not be manipulated.
>
> I will not pretend to understand.
>
> I will not forget.
>
> I will not forget the liberal media who abused freedom of the press to
> kick
> our country when it was vulnerable and hurting.
>
> I will not forget that CBS anchor Dan Rather preceded President Bush's
> address to the nation with the snide remark, "No matter how you feel
> about
> him, he is still our president."
>
> I will not forget that ABC TV anchor Peter Jennings questioned President
> Bush's motives for not returning immediately to Washington, DC and
> commented, "We're all pretty skeptical and cynical about Washington."
>
> And I will not forget that ABC's Mark Halperin warned if reporters
> weren't
> informed of every little detail of this war, they aren't "likely -- nor
> should they be expected -- to show deference."
>
> I will not isolate myself from my fellow Americans by pretending an
> attack
> on the USS Cole in Yemen was not an attack on the United States of
> America.
>
> I will not forget the Clinton administration equipped Islamic terrorists
> and their supporters with the world's most sophisticated
> telecommunications
> equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's
> ability
> to trace terrorist radio, cell phone, land lines, faxes and modem
> communications.
>
> I will not be appeased with pointless, quick retaliatory strikes like
> those
> perfected by the previous administration.
>
> I will not be comforted by "feel-good, do nothing" regulations like the
> silly, "Have your bags been under your control?" question at the
> airport.
>
> I will not be influenced by so called,"antiwar demonstrators" who
> exploit
> the right of expression to chant anti-American obscenities.
>
> I will not forget the moral victory handed the North Vietnamese by
> American
> war protesters who reviled and spat upon the returning soldiers, airmen,
> sailors and marines.
>
> I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who chose
> reassurance over reality.
>
> I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told the
> Labor Party conference, "They have no moral inhibition on the slaughter
> of
> the innocent. If they could have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, does
> anyone doubt they would have done so and rejoiced in it?
>
> There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting of minds,
> no
> point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: defeat it or be
> defeated by it. And defeat it we must!"
>
> I will force myself to:
>
> -hear the weeping
> -feel the helplessness
> -imagine the terror
> -sense the panic
> -smell the burning flesh
> - experience the loss
> - remember the hatred.
>
> I sat in a movie theater, watching "Private Ryan" and asked myself,
> "Where
> did they find the courage?"
>
> Now I know.
>
> We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living.
>
> -- Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.)
> Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine.
>
